O. Henry Middle School

Band

 Please visit the Mustang Band website at www.ohenrymustangband.com

 

Beginning Band

Beginning band is our group for beginning band students in grades 6-8. No experience is needed. This class focuses on the skills needed to be successful in band. Subjects covered include proper posture, instrument carriage, rhythm and note reading, articulations and dynamics. Students in this group will participate in two formal concerts per year, solo/ensemble contest and a vertical team tradition of "House Park Bles" at an Austin HS football game half-time show! This group will also compete in a competition on our Spring Trip at the end of the year.

Concert and Symphonic Band

These bands are comprised of students in grades 7 and 8 who have completed at least one year of instrumental training. These groups rehearse in two different periods to strengthen fundamental skills they learned the previous year. These groups rehearse one day a week after-school starting in the Second Six weeks grading period, throughout the year. These students can also be part of the Pep band by attending Summer band camp and practicing the music on their own. These students will participate in formal concerts, Band-O-Rama, Pre-UIL Concert, River City Band Festival, UIL Concert and Sight Reading contest and Solo/Ensemble Contest. This group will also have a judged performance as part of our Spring Trip.

Wind Ensemble

Wind Ensemble is the top band at O.Henry. This band is selected by the directors and rehearses daily in class as an ensemble. Each student has an additional before or after-school sectional to work on individual skill. Students in this group make the foundation of the Pep Band and will perform at two O.Henry football games. Members of this group will be preparing music to compete in the TMEA District and Region band auditions in the fall.  This group will also perform in two formal concerts, Band-O-Rama, Pre-UIL Concert, River City Band Festival, UIL Concert and Sight Reading contest and Solo/Ensemble Contest. This group will also have a judged performance as part of our Spring Trip to Dallas. Students in this group are encouraged to take private lessons.

Jazz Ensemble

Jazz Ensemble is offered to students in grades 7 and 8 at this time. Standard instruments are preferred such as saxophone, trombone, trumpet, guitar, piano, bass and drum set. Other instruments may be part of the group with the director's approval. This class is a separate elective in addition to the student's core music class. Students may play various styles consistent with the jazz idiom such as swing style, ballads, rock, Latin, pop, be-bop, etc. Students will begin to learn the basics of improvisation as well as some of the history of Jazz.. Music will be selected based on the strengths of the group. This group is not for beginning students.